Mail bag or pouch



(No Model.) 2' Sheets-Sheet I.

P. CAMPBELL.

MAIL BAG OR POUCH.

No. 335,424. Patented ab. 2, 1886.

N PETERS, Phnm-Lifihognpher. Waihinsion. D. C

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PARKER CAMPBELL, or nENToN, ASSIGNOR To ISAAC T. raven, or AUSTIN,TEXAS.

MAIL BAG OR POUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,424, dated February2, 1886.

Application filed November 14, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PARKER CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Denton, in the county of Denton and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Bags or Pouches. ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a front view, partly in perspective, of the upper part of amail-pouch open. Fig. 2 is a rear view of said part. Fig. 3 is a frontview, partly in perspective, of the pouch closed. Fig. dis an edge viewof top of pouch, the flap folded over the mouth and top ready to be bentto be placed in its sockets. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the top,&c., bent and ready to be placed in sockets; Fig. 6, details inperspective of front and rear of one of the sockets.

This invention belongs to that class of devices known as mail-pouches,which are usually leather or canvas bags, and used by the Post-OfficeDepartment in the transportation of letters, papers, and other mailmatter; and the novelty in the present instance consists moreparticularlyin the construction of the mouth portion of thepoueh,wherebysimple and efficient means are provided for closing andsecurely locking and fastening the bag, while at the same time, whenoccasion requires, the mouth can be unlocked and opened in a ready andspeedy way, all as will be more fully set out and explained, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

In these the mail-pouch is designated by the letter A; B, the flexiblemouth part, and B the mouth-covering flap. Horizontally-across to andupon the front of the pouch is secured in any well-known manner theleather strip 0, and upon this, and also, if desired, to the front ofthe pouch are secured the sockets D, preferably made of metal. Thesesockets at their front side, (1, are bent up, so as to have an openspace, (2, between the front and back. (1 is the seat or closed endbottom of this space. The holes (1* at the back and lower end are forthe purpose of riveting or otherwise fastening the socket to the stripand pouch, as above suggested. These sockets Serial No. 182,855. (Nomodel.)

can be made by stamping, casting, or in any desired way. There may be asmany of these sockets across the upper part of the pouch as are desiredor needed, and they are placed at alittle distaneeapart from each other.About centrally of the strip 0, and secured to it and the pouch byrivets or in any desired way, is the piece E, preferably of metal. Thistakes the place of the central socket in the arrange ment along strip 0.Upon and in this piece and the pouch the metal staple e is firmlysecured. On the back of the pouch is secured, in any suitable way, themetal strip F, which is made up of separate pieces f, each united to theother by vertical hinge f, so that it is readily foldable along its1engththat is, across the pouch-but rigid against vertical foldingmovement. Centrally in and through this hinged strip F and the pouch isfixed the staple g, on which is hung the clasp or a link, G. As thusconstructed the top flap, B, of the pouch is placed over the mouth ofthe pouch, as shown in Fig. 4, and then the top is folded over onitself, as shown in Fig. 5, and bent down till the metal strip F, whichnow is on the edge, rests within the space d of the sock ets D, as shownin Fig. 3. The hinges f will come between the sockets, so as to havefree play, as above described, horizontally. The link or clasp G isplaced over the staple e, and secured there by a padlock.

The operation of closing and locking and the reverse operation ofunlocking and opening are very easily accomplished.

By the means above described the pouch can be securely locked, and atthe same time the month part or top of the bagis sufficiently flexiblefor all desired uses or purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I consider new, and wish tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A mail-pouch having on its upper front sockets and at its rearahinged strip, and pro vided with a mouth-flap, whereby the mouth of thepouch can be covered and the folded top portion placed in the socketsand secured, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a mail-pouch as described, of the sockets D,strips (J, and staple e, with the hinged strips F, having hinges f,

and the clasp G, whereby the sockets are set forth, whereby, when thetop of the pouch 10 adapted to hold the said strip and its hinges I isfolded upon itself, the said strip will come come alternately betweeneach socket, subon the edge, as and for the purposes described.stantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 3.The socket D, having the upward bent presence of two witnesses. frontside, d, and seat J, as and for the pur- PARKER CAMPBELL.

poses set forth. Witnesses:

4E. The combination of the hinged strip F l A. W. ROBERTSON, with thepouch having a top flap or cover, as R. H. BATES.

